Jennifer Beck was Pierson's Band Director from August 2018 to May 2021. While being Pierson's primary music educator during Middle School, Ms. Beck helped Pierson to continue his passion of music. During 7th grade, Pierson auditioned for the All -District Honors Band and unfortunately did not place. Pierson learned from that experience and during COVID continued to learn his 8th grade All-District solo by taking a few private lessons with Ms. Beck and then continuing with Ian McCollum. Also during 7th grade, Pierson was invited to join the High School's Marching Band. 

During 8th grade, Pierson auditioned again for the All-District Honors Band and placed 3rd chair trombone. This made Pierson eligible for the All - State Honors Band. Pierson auditioned for the All-State Honors Band and placed 7th chair. 

Pierson will continue to thank Ms. Beck for giving him some of the best experiences while in Middle School and helping to continue his musical passion.

Biography;

Jennifer Beck is a native to the state of North Carolina, she has participated in her High School's competitive marching band, concert band, and auditioned at the county, district, and state levels during her time as a student. In high school, Ms. Beck attended Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University.

Ms. Beck graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at Appalachian State, Ms. Beck performed in the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Basketball pep band and ASU Marching Mountaineers. Ms. Beck also had the opportunity to lead the Marching Mountaineers as Drum Major her senior year.

Matthew Brusseau was Pierson's High School Band Director from July, 2019 - December, 2021. He was the director of the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Jazz Ensemble. While being the Band Director he led the Marching Band to multiple Grand Champions. He also continued Pierson's passion for the Marching arts. While, Pierson only really had him in class for a few months. Pierson loves and aspires to be the Band Director that Mr. B was. 

Biography;

Mr. Brusseau is a graduate of Appalachian State University where he received his Master of Music Performance in Conducting and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education. While at both Universities, Mr. Brusseau performed in many ensembles.

Dustin Wallace was Pierson's Band Director from December 2021 - May 2022. While being Band Director, Wallace helped Pierson to make All-District Band in 9th grade. Wallace also helped the Wind Ensemble to straight superior at MPA. Wallace also helped Pierson to create musical ideas for his UNCSA audition. Pierson thanks Wallace for his support and help through this time.

Biography;

Dustin Wallace attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and received his BA in music education in May of 2017. Dustin started his teaching career at a Middle & High School setting in 2017. Whilst at these schools, He restarted the competitive marching band program, created an after-school percussion ensemble program, and helped his students to earn the schools first Straight Superior Rating at MPA in over 15 years. He then moved to Charlotte and became the band director at a different school in 2019. Whilst being the band director of this school, he reinstated the Winter Guard program in 2020 and helped lead the guard to an undefeated inaugural season, that was unfortunately cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the fall of 2021 Dustin happily accepted the position of band director at 

Dustin has many years of marching experience. He was a Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps member in 2011, 2012, and 2014. He was also a member of the World Class, Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2015.

Ian McCollum was Pierson's private instructor from August, 2020 to June 2022. While being Pierson's instructor, they worked through many situations, the most problematic being Pierson's braces. This didn't stop either of them. While being Dr. McCollum's student, Pierson found his trombone technique to become easier. Pierson also made many accomplishments while working with McCollum, most noteably making All - District and All -State. Dr. McCollum will forever have a place in Pierson's heart. Pierson continues to thank McCollum for all of his work and support.

Biography;

Currently serving as Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Ian McCollum enjoys balancing active performing and composing activity in conjunction with high school ensemble education in the greater Charlotte area, as well as active clinician work across the southeast. He has spent the last several years earning a reputation of versatility, sensitivity, and musical conviction in both his performances and compositions.

A largely self-taught composer, he has written for brass, strings and percussion and endeavors to bridge the gap between performer and audience with each composition. As an avid performer, Dr. McCollum’s experience in ensemble settings ranges from orchestral to jazz and swing bands on tuba, euphonium, and trombone. He is also a prize-winning soloist and has enjoyed competing nationally and internationally.

Dr. McCollum holds a Doctorate of Brass Performance from Florida State University, a Masters of Music from Columbus State University, and a Bachelors of Music from the University of North Alabama. His primary teachers include Eddie Elsey, Martin Cochran, Andrew Miller, Paul Ebbers, and Justin Benavidez.

Dr. Jeremy Marks started his position as Assistant Professor of Trombone at UNC Charlotte in the fall of 2018. Prior to his appointment, he held faculty positions at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Blinn College (TX), and was the Teaching Assistant for the trombone studio at The University of Texas at Austin. His students have participated in summer programs such as the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute and the Bar Harbor Brass Camp.

He has served the International Trombone Association as the Web Assistant and the state representative for Louisiana's chapter of T.A.P.A.S. (Trombone Artists Performing for Amateurs and Students), an education initiative by the International Trombone Association. In addition to teaching, he has been published in the International Trombone Association Journal and presented his research interest on bass trumpet at several conferences and festivals.

Dr. Marks is the 2nd trombonist with Opera Carolina and the North Carolina Brass Band, bass trombonist of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and interim principal trombonist with the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with several other symphony orchestras, including Charlotte, Virginia, Baton Rouge, Austin (TX), and Canton (OH). His doubling credits on bass trombone, bass trumpet, and euphonium can be heard on the Naxos, Mark Customs, Arcadia, and Longhorn record labels. He is a member of the 2013 International Trombone Association Quartet Competition winner, Northside Trombone Quartet. Other performing credits include several regional, national, and international venues, such as the 2018 and 2019 International Trombone Festivals and the 2017 International Women’s Brass Conference.

He holds memberships with the International Trombone Association, International Tuba and Euphonium Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is an S.E. Shires Trombone Artist and exclusively performs on Greg Black mouthpieces.

Dr. Marks’s primary teaching influences include Dr. Nathaniel Brickens, Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger, Dr. William Mathis, Garth Simmons, and Charles Villarrubia. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin, Master of Music from Western Michigan University, and Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University.

John Ilika has been Pierson's private instructor since August of 2022. (continues to be updated)

Biography;

Coming from a background as an accomplished freelancer in and around Philadelphia for 15 years and also as Principal Trombone of a major symphony orchestra since 2001, trombone faculty John Ilika has familiarity with both worlds. Whether you want to play commercially, or prepare for a orchestral audition, he has been there—and he's been successful. He has also played alto, tenor and bass trombone professionally for over 30 years and has been on faculty at UNCSA since 2010. 

John Ilika accepted the position of Principal Trombone with the North Carolina Symphony in January 2001. Prior to that, he held principal trombone positions with the Pennsylvania Ballet, Delaware Symphony, Opera Delaware, Florida Music Festival and the Philadelphia Brass (quintet).

In 1992, with the Delaware Symphony, Ilika commissioned and premiered the Trombone Concerto by Kile Smith, Curator of the Fleisher Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Upon graduation in 1981 from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he earned a Music Education degree, he played for three years with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Maracaibo in Venezuela. Shortly after the economy crashed in Venezuela in 1983, he left to study with Charles Vernon, formerly of The Philadelphia Orchestra, at the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (now the University of the Arts). He has played and recorded with The Philadelphia Orchestra as a substitute since 1989 and worked with every important musical organization in the Philadelphia area during his 15 years of free-lancing there.

Teaching posts include the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina since 1994, as well as Lehigh University; Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Community College of Philadelphia; West Chester University (PA); University of Delaware; and the Orquesta Juvenil in Caracas and Coro, Venezuela. Other principal teachers were Eric Carlson, Fred Nyline, and Joseph Alessi.

Mark A. Norman is the Director of Wind Ensembles at UNCSA. Pierson has been under his direction since August of 2022. (to be continually updated)

Biography;

Mark A. Norman has enjoyed a career spanning over thirty years as a conductor and tuba performer. He is the Music Director of the Piedmont Wind Symphony and the Director of Wind Ensembles and a conducting faculty artist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

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Raised and currently residing in North Carolina, Mark has lived and worked throughout the United States and guest conducted internationally. He is the former music director of the American Wind Orchestra and Riverside Wind Symphony and has been on the conducting faculties of the University of Michigan, UW-Milwaukee, UNC Greensboro, Washburn University, and Towson University. He has recorded with the Fountain City Brass Band, American Wind Orchestra, UNCG Wind Ensemble, and most recently, produced a three-part video series titled “Beethoven and the Winds” with the Piedmont Wind Symphony. He has been featured on radio programs including NPR Kansas, and on local and national television shows.  Throughout his career, he has been the subject of several articles in prestigious papers such as the Washington Post. Mark is a frequent guest conductor with professional and academic ensembles, most recently with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, and the NC Brass Band.

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His professional career began in the 1980’s as a frequent substitute tubist with North Carolina, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem Symphonies as well as summer jobs performing at Busch Gardens and Sesame Place theme parks. His principal teacher was David Lewis of the NC Symphony and shortly after becoming the first tuba performer to win the UNCG Concerto Competition, Mark won a position with the esteemed U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC at the age of 22. While living in the nation’s capital for 14 years, Mark was the principal tuba with the Georgetown Symphony, McLean Orchestra, and the Mount Vernon Chamber Symphony, all of which featured him as a soloist and gained him critical acclaim. He was a frequent soloist in recitals and with orchestras and bands throughout the country. His conducting career began as a cover conductor and clinician for local orchestras and bands in the DC metropolitan area and he quickly gained notoriety for his energetic style and emotive sensibilities. He founded the Loudoun Symphonic Winds in 1993 and the Riverside Wind Symphony in 1997 which established his career as a conductor before being named the music director of the professional American Wind Orchestra in 1998. He also founded the Mid-Atlantic Wind Conductors Conference which featured internationally known conductors and composers including Frederick Fennell, Frank Ticheli, and Mark Camphouse.

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After one year conducting the bands and orchestra at Towson University, Mark returned to North Carolina in 2002.   He received his Master’s degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts in instrumental conducting at UNC Greensboro where he studied with John Locke and Kevin Geraldi. During this time, his professional career continued as the music director of the Greensboro Concert Band and as the Director of Wind Ensembles at UNC School of the Arts.

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When he was named the Director of Bands at Washburn University in 2009, he and his wife Amanda left for Topeka, Kansas. His ensembles at Washburn were often chosen for conferences and tours including a performance at the Kennedy Center premiering pieces honoring attendees Bob and Elizabeth Dole. In 2013, he moved to Ann Arbor, MI after accepting an appointment as a Visiting Professor of Conducting at the University of Michigan. He later moved to Wisconsin where he was the on faculty at the Peck School for the Arts at UW-Milwaukee. During this time, Mark and Amanda became the owners of the Charlotte Music School with over 250 students and began their trek back to NC.

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Upon returning to NC in 2016, Mark began his second stint as the Director of Wind Ensembles at UNCSA and additionally taught part-time for two years at his alma mater UNCG as a Visiting Professor of Conducting. In 2020, Mark was named the Director of Instrumental Ensembles and conducting faculty artist at UNCSA where he oversees the large ensembles program and conducts the wind ensemble, chamber winds, and occasionally the symphony orchestra.

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Ensembles under Mark’s direction have performed at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) conference, regional College Band Director National Association (CBDNA), and the state music educators’ conferences in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Kansas. He is the winner of several solo and chamber music competitions and was nominated for both a Virginia Governor’s Award in Arts Excellence and a Grammy Award in co-producing the UNCG Wind Ensemble recording of “Fireworks.”

Maria Serkin is an active performer and pedagogue. Currently, Dr. Serkin is the Associate Professor of Horn at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Previously, she was the Lecturer of Horn at the University of Virginia and the Principal Horn of the Charlottesville Symphony. Dr. Serkin has also held the positions of Principal Horn with the Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Symphony, and the Sarasota Orchestra, Horn Professor of the New World School of the Arts, and was a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. 

 Dr. Serkin earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music and New England Conservatory, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music. During her studies, she performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA, National Repertory Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, and was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. She has also worked extensively with the North Carolina Brass Band, Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival, Palm Beach Opera, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Sinfonietta. Her New York and Miami recording credits include work with The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park, Gloria Estefan, and ESPN. Recent solo appearances include performances with the UNCSA Wind Ensemble and the Eastman Horn Choir.

 An avid educator, Dr. Serkin has taught horn master classes extending from the Eastman School of Music and The Juilliard School, to the Crescendo Summer Institute in Hungary.  Her doctoral research established a progressive method of transposition--a first in the advancement of horn methodology. 

Margaret Rehder was named conductor of the Winston-Salem Youth Philharmonic in 1999. Beginning in 1983, Margaret has led outstanding orchestra programs at R.J. Reynolds High School and Wiley Middle School until her retirement in 2020. She was named Teacher of the Year for 2002 – 2003. She is a Nationally Board-Certified Teacher and is very active with the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Strings Teachers Association and the North Carolina Music Educators Association. Ms. Rehder has been a member of the Winston-Salem Symphony since 1979 and is currently Assistant Principal Second Violinist. She earned a Bachelor of Music in violin performance at Meredith College, a Master of Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and studied music education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Peter Noll (b. 1999) is a composer whose music explores the combination of minimalism, modernism, and impressionism. His music is immersed in the ideas of philosophy and the natural world. Noll follows the concept of “what?” and “how?” in search of “why?”. What is the sound that needs to be explored, and how can that sound be achieved? These questions give Noll the challenge of the “why?” in his music. Noll writes for all combinations of instruments and voices, from acoustic to electric, and solo to large symphonic settings.

As a composer, Noll creates art that reflects the world around him through the medium of music. Music may not enforce specific emotions but rather suggest them and allow the listener to experience the art in their own way. Noll’s musical goal is to inspire the listener to view the world they already know from a different perspective. Noll is always seeking a new sound to heighten the expression his music is trying to convey. This is usually achieved through atypical instrument combinations as well as the blending of acoustic and electronic mediums.

Noll began his music journey as a saxophonist. He completed his undergraduate degree in music performance from Florida Gulf Coast University in Southwest Florida with his primary instrument being saxophone. As a composer, Noll strives to learn and grow as much as possible through the creation of new music. Noll is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Music composition at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem North Carolina. He is also a teaching assistant for the composition studio at UNCSA. Noll continues to study composition with his teacher, Dr. Lawrence Dillon.